Introducing Rohan's Parents
Rohan's childhood home was a sprawling estate tucked away in the city's most prestigious neighborhood. The towering gates and manicured gardens symbolized the family's success, but within the house lay an unspoken tension that Rohan had known all his life.
At the head of the family was Mr. Dhiren Kapoor, a man whose stern demeanor and unyielding ambition had earned him both respect and fear. He had built the Kapoor empire from the ground up and expected Rohan to follow in his footsteps without question.
"I've given you everything, Rohan," his father often said, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken expectations. "Now it's your turn to prove that you're worthy of carrying the Kapoor name."
Rohan's mother, Meera Kapoor, was the gentle counterbalance to her husband's authority. With her warm eyes and soft-spoken words, she was the peacemaker in the family. Yet, even her kindness had limits. Meera rarely contradicted Dhiren, choosing instead to support him from the shadows.
"Your father only wants what's best for you," she would say, her tone tinged with both encouragement and resignation. "You'll understand that one day."
---
Family Expectations
Rohan had always known that his life was not entirely his own. From a young age, he had been groomed to take over the family's business—a multi-generational conglomerate that dominated various industries. His education, his career, and even his personal relationships had all been carefully orchestrated to ensure he upheld the Kapoor legacy.
His engagement to Asha was no exception.
Dhiren had made it clear from the beginning: this marriage was about more than love. It was a strategic alliance between two influential families, designed to strengthen their social and financial standing.
"Love is a luxury, not a necessity," Dhiren had said during one of their many conversations about the engagement. "What matters is compatibility and mutual benefit. Asha's family will bring value to ours, and she seems like a sensible girl. That's all you need."
Rohan had nodded, as he always did when his father spoke. But inwardly, he felt a growing sense of unease. He respected Asha and admired her intelligence, but their relationship felt cold, transactional—a far cry from the partnership he had once imagined for himself.
---
Pressure on Rohan
The weight of expectation was suffocating. Rohan often found himself torn between his duty to his family and his desire for a life that felt authentic. He envied his peers who had the freedom to choose their own paths, unburdened by the legacy of a name.
Late at night, he would sit in his study, staring at the framed photographs of his father shaking hands with powerful figures or cutting ribbons at grand openings. These images were meant to inspire him, but they only served as reminders of the life he was expected to live.
"What about what I want?" he had once asked his mother in a rare moment of vulnerability.
Meera had placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You have responsibilities, Rohan. You've been given opportunities that most people can only dream of. Don't throw them away."
"But what if I don't want them?" he had replied.
Meera's eyes had softened with a hint of sadness, but she had said nothing more.
---
Cultural and Personal Conflict
Rohan's struggle wasn't just personal—it was cultural. Tradition held a powerful sway over his family, dictating everything from their daily rituals to their long-term goals. To go against those traditions would be seen as a betrayal, not just of his parents, but of generations of Kapoors who had come before him.
And yet, Rohan couldn't ignore the growing voice inside him that questioned it all. Was it fair to expect him to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of legacy? Was it fair to expect the same of Asha?
He had seen the hesitation in her eyes during the engagement ceremony, the way she had avoided his gaze. She was struggling too, he realized. And though they had barely spoken beyond pleasantries, he felt an unspoken bond with her—a shared sense of being trapped by forces beyond their control.
---
Siblings and Secrets
Rohan wasn't entirely alone in his struggle. His younger sister, Naina, was perhaps the only person who truly understood him. Bold and independent, Naina had always challenged the status quo, much to their father's frustration.
"You're too soft, Rohan," she teased one evening as they sat in the garden. "You let Dad walk all over you. You need to stand up for yourself."
"It's not that simple," he replied, running a hand through his hair. "You don't know the kind of pressure I'm under."
Naina rolled her eyes. "Please. Dad wants you to think you don't have a choice, but you do. You always do."
Rohan sighed. "And what about you? Do you think you'll have a choice when it's your turn?"
Naina smirked. "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. But you, big brother, need to figure out what you want before it's too late."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of another family member—Arjun, their cousin. Arjun was older than Rohan and had been something of a mentor to him growing up. But in recent years, their relationship had grown strained, partly because of an incident that neither of them spoke about openly.
"Still brooding, Rohan?" Arjun asked with a sly grin.
"Just thinking," Rohan replied curtly.
Arjun chuckled. "Careful with that. Too much thinking can be dangerous."
Naina shot Arjun a look. "Leave him alone, Arjun."
But Arjun wasn't finished. "You know," he said, leaning against the garden wall, "you're lucky. At least you're being given a chance to marry someone respectable. Not everyone gets that kind of privilege."
There was an edge to his voice that made Rohan's stomach churn. It was a not-so-subtle reminder of a mistake Rohan had made years ago—a relationship that had ended badly and had left a shadow over his life ever since.
"Enough, Arjun," Naina said sharply. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Arjun raised his hands in mock surrender. "Just saying. Some of us have to live with the consequences of our actions. You should think about that, Rohan."
With that, he walked away, leaving Rohan and Naina in an uneasy silence.
---
Hints of the Past
As the night deepened, Rohan found himself alone in his room, his thoughts drifting to the incident Arjun had alluded to. It had been years ago, but the memory was still fresh in his mind.
Her name was Anjali. She had been everything Rohan thought he wanted—spirited, passionate, and fiercely independent. But their relationship had been doomed from the start. She wasn't from a family that met the Kapoor standard, and when their secret was discovered, Rohan had been forced to end it.
The fallout had been devastating. Anjali had left without a word, and Rohan had buried himself in work, trying to forget her. But no matter how hard he tried, she lingered in his thoughts—a painful reminder of what could have been.
Arjun's words had reopened old wounds, and now, with his engagement to Asha looming, those wounds felt more raw than ever.
---
The Weight of Secrets
As Rohan stared at the ceiling, he couldn't shake the feeling that his past was catching up with him. He thought about Asha, about the life they were expected to build together. Could he ever truly be honest with her? Could he expect her to trust him when he carried so much baggage?
And what about Arjun? He had always been unpredictable, and Rohan couldn't help but wonder if his cousin might use the past against him.
The questions swirled in his mind, leaving him restless and uneasy. The path ahead was anything but clear, and for the first time in a long while, Rohan felt truly lost.
As dawn broke, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and orange, Rohan made a silent vow. Whatever the future held, he would face it head-on. He owed that much to himself—and to Asha.